Thermalright NB-1C Chipset Cooler

A Closer Look

The NB-1C cooler arrived securely packaged in the traditional Thermalright cardboard box. The kit includes the solid copper heatsink, Delta fan, package of mounting hardware, a tube of white thermal grease, and a 3-pin to 4-pin wiring adapter. (The original aluminum NB-1 is on the left.)

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The base of the heatsink is relatively flat with a nice machined finish and is protected by a clear plastic film, which must obviously be removed prior to installation.

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Another unique feature worth noting is the internal pyramid shape of the copper base. It's hard to see, but the bottom surface, down between the fins, is machined at an angle, sloping away from the centerline on either side. This presents a more aerodynamic surface than the typical flat-bottoms found in most heatsinks and was done to help minimize backpressure to the fan.

The included Delta fan is designed for performance and not quiet. While not nearly as noisy as some of its bigger brothers, this fan does emit a very noticeable high-pitched whine during operation.